Got a TC Hawken when I got out of college (1981), cap lock, shot it a bunch back then, hunting and at shoots, always wanted a flintlock. Fast forward to last summer when I was talking about this with my neighbor. He said he had a rifle barrel and flintlock and a slab of walnut he got 50 years ago to build, but never got around to it and I could have if I wanted. I figured it would make a good first retirement project and actually started last summer, before I retired.
But I goofed the stock in multiple ways and finally figured it was beyond reconciliation (splits and miss drilled holes) so ordered a partially inlaid maple stock, which required a different lock. This was just as well since the Russ Hamm lock, just considering the poor frizzen to pan fit as a measure, was not nearly the quality of the new large Siler. But, wanting to still use the Russ Hamm, I ordered a pistol barrel in .54 caliber. Botched a stock attempt for it using part of the walnut (more splits, that old piece of walnut just seems very brittle), so ordered a cherry blank to work with (while waiting on back ordered rifle stock).
Have learned that the precise inlaying of wood to steel is not my strong suit, so a little Acra glass gel tightens up breach to wood fit.
Got going steady on it this January, got rifle stock looking good, many flaws in fit, a chip in a barrel pin hole (fixed with matching oval brass inlays). Terrible luck with the inlet ram rod pipe, acra glass under it stabilizes it though and cannot be seen. Stock finally done except for nose cap, which is fit but not pinned yet. Will not win any prises, but should be good enough to shoot at a deer this fall.
Having difficulty with my Laurel Mountain Forge barrel browning process, as noted in a previous post (and thanks to all the helpful replies). I think some are my problems, I think some the instructions need to be more clear on do not overlap or cover twice or this is rubbing and gives the copper color and do not apply while still warm from a wash down, and some just because I cannot get and maintain a warm and humid environment well, even in my make shift tent.
Then I today read many posts about the Douglas rifle barrels and their 12L14 steel issues. Yup, my barrel is an early 1970's "Made for Golden Age Arms by G.R. Douglas .45 Cal." OK, fifty people will chime in that they have and shoot old Douglas barrels without issue, but there was apparently an issue and I do like my hands and eyes.
Truly, if I had known about Russ Hamm lock quality, Douglas barrel issues and my inept skill level I would have said no thanks to my neighbor and just bought a good kit to assemble.
Maybe I will build a test firing cradle for the first few shots.
